"I am not speaking of your credit," cried Mr. Hilton angrily. "You know what I mean well enough—did I spend a fortune on your upbringing for you to drop like a stone into this set I put you among—like a stone, to sink at once? You lose money at cards, no one remarks you; you hold no levees, you have no genteel friends—you have nothing of the great lady save the vices."
"Because I am a tradesman's daughter," said the Countess, "yet I ape the woman of rank very well, yet—also I do not choose to alter my life, so spare your words."
Mr. Hilton flushed.
"Sometimes I think you really are mad," he answered violently. "But it has to cease——"
She interrupted quickly.
"What has to cease?"
"This wild and useless expenditure, this idle indifference on your part."
She made a weary gesture with her hands.
"Do you think I care if you sell us up to-morrow?"
"You speak like a fool," he answered furiously; "is there no way to bring you to sense?"